Joanna Newsom – Ys

Review

"Ys," Joanna Newsom's second studio album, stands as a verdant forest of sound released on November 14, 2006. With just five tracks spanning 55 minutes, it's an epic journey through Newsom's personal tales, breathing life into the mythological city of Ys, rumored to have been claimed by the sea off Brittany's coast. Newsom's distinctive vocals glide like a swift breeze over Van Dyke Parks' elaborate orchestral arrangements, while Steve Albini and Jim O'Rourke wrap the album in a polished, almost crystalline production.

The album's tracks bloom with rich, vivid imagery and deeply emotional storytelling. "Monkey and Bear" is an evocative fable highlighting themes of control and exploitation through the exploits of two runaway farm animals. "Emily" paints the sky with poignant, cloud-strewn verses, while "Sawdust and Diamonds" is a fiery rhapsody exploring the raw elements of death, love, and fear. Hailed as a groundbreaking work in the indie music sphere, "Ys" has inspired artists like Chance the Rapper and Frances Quinlan, and its bold lyricism continues to resonate like a timeless, powerful river. It's an album meant for listeners to immerse themselves, much like trees drinking deeply from the soil. - Cedar